N. Guinea

Jewish Settlement for N. Guinea Another Post-war "Plan"

Letter to the Editor ONCE again the problem of settling Europe’s persecuted Jews is in the news. This time Plying-Officer J.

Cassel, RAAF, himself a Jew, and described as a former resident of New Guinea of 19 years standing, suggests (vide “Army News”) that New Guinea would be a suitable place to settle them.

I should like to know just what part of New Guinea F O Cassel thinks suitable— but no doubt he has the position well in hand.

I, for one. cannot see how (or why) this should be done, and for these reasons : • There is a very large native popula tion to take into consideration. • A goodly proportion of the country is perpendicular—some say that four fifths is a conservative estimate. • There are many of our fighting men who may want to settle in the country at a later date. • The ex-residents, most of whom have had heavy wartime losses, should be given consideration before any so-called refu gees, who would be another burden on

the country, as most of them are city folk. • Markets in New Guinea are the big gest problem. This has been pointed out before. It is easy to produce vast quan tities of different kinds of produce which cannot be sold. (But I suppose this is where the good old subsidy comes in— paid by over-taxed Australians.) I have had over 20 years’ tropical experience and have seen many “money makers” go on the scrap-heap in New Guinea through lack of markets for the produce produced.

As I, for one, will have to start out again I would like to say aloud, and right now, that charity, as always, begins at home. Those of us who have lived and worked—pioneered, if you like —in the Territory of New Guinea should fight any invasion from Europe until ex-residents are on their feet again. I have every sympathy for the unfortunate refugees of Europe, and no doubt their problem is a world problem. But we have one of our own—and a big one for a nation of only seven million people to solve.

I think that as their various home lands seem to be continually in their thoughts, many Jewish people will make their way back to Europe when its libera tion is completed, and thus they will help to solve their own problem.

I am, etc.,

H. (Tex) Archer.

June 28, 1944.